President Benigno Aquino III. AP FILE PHOTO/BULLIT MARQUEZ
MANILA, Philippines — President Benigno Aquino III was informed of the operation against Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli Abdhir two weeks before the January 25, 2015, Mamasapano incident where 44 members of the Special Action Force (SAF) were killed.
Testifying before the Senate investigation on the incident on Monday, relieved SAF Director Getulio Napeñas said that he, then-suspended PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima and another police officer met with the President in Malacanang on January 9, 2015, for a “mission update” on Abdhir.
“On January 9, 2015, we, Police General Purisima, myself and Supt. Mendez went to Malacanang and met his Excellency at the Bahay Pangarap for mission update in the new concept of operation. We named this Oplan Exodus,” Napeñas said.
“Under Oplan Exodus, coordination with the Armed Forces of the Philippines will be timed on target in order to avoid another compromise. His Excellency cited about the coordination with AFP…”
After the update, Napeñas said he and Mendez went out while Purisima “stayed behind.”
“It was then when Director General Purisma, when he went out, stated: Huwag mo munang sabihan yung dalawa, saka na pay nandun na. Ako na ang bahala kay Catapang,” Napeñas said, quoting the now-resigned PNP chief. (Don’t tell the two beforehand. Tell them later when its ongoing. I will take care of Catapang.)
Purisima was referring to Interior Secretary Mar Roxas and PNP officer-in-charge Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina.
Catapang was AFP Chief of Staff Gregorio Catapang.
Under questioning by Senator Antonio Trillanes III, Napeñas said he did not take the statements of Purisima as orders but suggestions. He reiterated that he was in command, not Purisima.
The meeting in Malacanang took place while Purisima had already been suspended by the Office of the Ombudsman for an allegedly anomalous courier contract.
He resigned as PNP chief last week.
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